My eyes flew open. I felt hot. A dream. Just another fucking dream. I wasn’t stupid enough to think they’d ever stop.
I shifted, grabbing my phone from the bedside table. It was four in the morning. At least I’d managed five hours. No way in hell was I getting back to sleep after that shit.
I hauled myself out of bed and pulled on a t-shirt before picking up a set of keys. My footsteps were quiet across the carpet. Standing outside the reinforced steel door, I wasn’t sure whether to check on her or not. I hoped she’d be asleep.
When I unbolted it and turned the locks, the door swung back. She was still lying in the exact same place I’d left her in, curled up on her side with her eyes closed
I ventured in. She didn’t stir, but it couldn’t have been comfortable for her lying like that with her hands cuffed behind her back. I walked around and squatted down. I unlocked the cuffs and slipped them into my pocket.
A whimper cut through the silence. I brushed her hair back from her face. Her cheeks were wet. A very small part of me felt responsible for her misery.
Avery didn’t know why her parents needed to die. To her, I was just the guy who’d taken away her loved ones. Now she didn’t have anyone else but me.
I didn’t think. I just did. Picking her up, I walked backwards until I was up against the wall. I sat down with her in my lap and cradled her to my chest.
“Shhh,” I whispered, stroking her hair when she whimpered again.
Her fingers curled around my t-shirt, gripping it with her fist. She was so fucking small in my arms. I knew she was about twenty years old. She certainly looked and felt all woman, yet she was still so small compared to me.
And here I was being a fucking idiot. I’d never offered anyone comfort before or held someone because they needed a hug. That just wasn’t me.
It was like some part of me knew what Avery needed right now was someone to take care of her. That if I wanted to make her mine, I had to make her need me. No matter my sick attraction to the girl, I still had to carry out my plan. I needed her for that.
Avery shifted in my grasp. I looked down at her. Her eyes were open. For a moment, we just stared at each other. Tears spilt down her cheeks unheeded. Then Avery did something I didn’t expect. She let go of my t-shirt, placed her hand right above my heart, buried her face in my chest and sobbed. I sat there, stroking her hair. I let her cry on me without saying a word.
Her skin was icy to the touch. Given I’d left her on the concrete floor in nothing but her underwear, it wasn’t a surprise. She needed to get warm again.
I pulled out the key from my pocket and unlocked the manacle around her ankle. I stood with her in my arms. She didn’t raise her head when I carried her out into the hall and along to the bathroom. I set her down on the edge of the bath before putting the plug in and turning on the taps.
Only then did she look at me. Her eyes roamed across my face and down to my arms. She bit her lip. It was the first time she’d seen me in anything but a shirt. I knew she was staring at the intricate designs snaking up from my wrists. It had taken years to have my entire torso and arms marked in ink, but it was a badge of honour for me. They told the story of my life. Except no one would be able to decipher their meaning without context.
Curiosity burnt in her doe eyes, but I knew she wouldn’t ask me about them.
“If you need to… uh… go, then go,” I said, indicating the loo behind me.
She stood up on shaky legs and walked towards it. My back was to her so she didn’t have to worry about me watching. She sat back on the bath when she was done, her eyes on me again.
“Why are you doing this for me?” she asked.
“You’re cold. Can’t have you getting sick.”
I took her injured hand and peeled off the bandage. Her knuckles looked better than they had done yesterday. It was lucky she hadn’t hurt herself worse.
When the water was high enough, I shut off the taps. I walked away a few paces to give her some privacy.
“Um, Aiden, can… can you help me, please? I can’t undo my bra.”
When I turned back, her face was bright red. The way she said my name made my dick hard. For fuck’s sake. That was the last thing I needed.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“My arms, it hurts too much what with them having been cuffed behind my back all night.”
I moved closer to her.
“Turn around then.”
She did as I asked. I could see goosebumps all over her skin. Taking a breath, I unhooked her bra. My fingers trailed upwards, pushing down the strap on her left shoulder. She put her hands up, cupping the bra to her breasts. I stared down at her cleavage as I pulled down the strap on her right shoulder. My fingers brushed down her arms, coming to rest on her waist. The urge to tug her against me grew until it was almost unbearable.
“I don’t want to get my hair wet,” she whispered.
I brushed her hair away from her ear, leaning down closer.
“No?”
She swallowed.
“It’s not like you’d have a hairdryer lying around.”
I smiled as I trailed my fingers along her shoulder. She trembled and fuck, did I want her. Here she was, almost naked in front of me and no matter how much she hated me, she was affected too. Her breath came faster, her teeth making indents on her bottom lip.
“Wait there.”
Girls I’d had in my flat in the past sometimes left things behind. I most likely had a hairband for her somewhere. I dug through the bathroom cabinet above the sink, finding my prey. I stalked back over to Avery, resuming my position behind her. I carefully gathered her hair up and tied it back for her.
“Do you need anything else?” I asked, resting my hands on her shoulders, kneading them slightly with my fingers.
I felt her relax so I continued. She let out a little moan.
“Do you like that? You’re all tense,” I whispered in her ear, stepping closer so my chest was almost touching her back.
I didn’t think she’d answer me, but she nodded. She arched into my touch when I dug my fingers harder into her shoulders.
What the fuck was I doing right now?
This was going to end badly if I didn’t stop, but my fucking common sense had fled. Being close to her, touching her skin made all my senses come alive. It was fucking lucky I was wearing shorts because my hardon was raging out of control. I teetered on the edge of pressing her into me. We were only inches apart. Those inches felt like miles.
“You should get in before the water gets cold,” I said.
“O… Okay.”
Her neck was flushed. Even the tips of her ears were red. She stepped forward and I let my hands drop. Her arms fell to her sides and her bra dropped to the floor. I couldn’t fucking move. She hooked her fingers into her underwear, bending down slightly as she took off the last piece of her clothing. Fuck. Fuck. Her pert behind was like a fucking beacon. My cock twitched, wanting to be nestled between her cheeks. I almost groaned before I tore my eyes away.
She stepped into the bath and sunk into the water, covering herself with her arms. I moved away, putting the toilet lid down and sitting on it.
“For what it’s worth, I never intended for you to see what I did to them,” I said, wanting to break the tense silence between us.
“I know.”
She didn’t look at me as she sunk lower in the water until only her head was above the surface. I wasn’t going to look because I knew if I did, nothing would stop me getting in that bath with her. And as fucked up as I was, I would never, ever fuck a girl against her will. That would put me on the same level as the sick fucks I was trying to destroy.
“Is it helping?”
“The bath? Yes.”
I couldn’t think of what else to say to her. It wasn’t like I really knew anything about the girl other than what her uncle had told me and what I’d seen in the tabloids.
I stood up, walking over and picking up her discarded clothes. I made to leave, but her voice stopped me.
“Where are you going?”
I didn’t turn around.
“To get you something else to wear. I suggest you stay there until I get back.”
I walked out and away into the kitchen. I checked the labels on her bra and other clothes, making a note of her size before dumping them and the clothes I’d taken off her yesterday in the washing machine. I’d get her some new stuff because she couldn’t exactly stay here and only have one set of clothing. I couldn’t go and fetch stuff from her place. The police would be all over that and no one knew I had her. It had to stay that way.
I went to my bedroom and selected one of my plain white t-shirts and a clean pair of boxers. I wasn’t sure what else to put her in, so it would have to do.
When I returned to the bathroom, she hadn’t moved. I sat back down on the toilet seat and dumped the clothes next to me.
“You’ll have to tell me what you need and I’ll get it for you.”
“What?” she asked, turning to me.
“You know, the girl shit you might need.”
“Why would you get me stuff?”
I shook my head. She didn’t get it.
“I told you before, you’re mine. That means I take care of you and give you all the things you need.”
I didn’t stop to think about what things other than possessions she might need from me and whether I could really give her everything.
“You didn’t really explain that part.”
“You just haven’t been listening. You will learn to rely on me and only me. Until then, you’re going to stay in that cell.”
She didn’t reply. I watched her fidget in the water under my gaze. At least she wasn’t fighting me. That would be a battle she’d lose and I was pretty sure she’d worked that out.
Now, I just had to combat the war going on in her head. She didn’t want to submit to me, but she would. Just so long as I didn’t keep touching her, things would be okay.
I looked away when she grabbed one of the bottles of shower gel from the side of the bath. I really needed to get her back in the cell so I could take care of myself. It was the only way I’d get rid of my burning need to rip her out the bathtub, bend her over the side of it and fuck her senseless.
Sick fuck. Sick in the head.
Wanting her was so wrong.
“Can I have a towel… please?”
I got up, snagging a clean one from the shelf and held it up for her. I closed my eyes when she got out and took it from me. I walked away, getting the clothes I’d brought her off the floor. I kept my back to her as she put them on.
She put a hand on my arm, to get my attention. My skin prickled from the direct contact. My sick need for her grew. Fuck.
“Come on,” I said, pulling my arm from her grasp.
Her eyes flashed with confusion, but she followed me from the room. I didn’t take her into the cell. We walked into the kitchen.
“Go sit down at the table.”
She did as I asked. It was still dark outside, but with it being winter, the sun wouldn’t rise properly for a few hours or so. I got my box of medical supplies and bandaged her hand again. She watched me without saying a word. Her doe eyes spoke volumes. Grateful I’d taken care of her.
I packed up the supplies and got up. I pulled out some breakfast stuff from the fridge and set about making a protein shake for myself and eggs on toast for her. I still wasn’t sure what she ate, but we could broach that subject later.
I thrust the plate under her nose when I was done, leaning back against the counter with my glass.
She ate in silence with me watching her. My t-shirt swamped her small frame, but it didn’t stop her tits sticking out. Her nipples were hard against the fabric. Fuck me if I didn’t want to bite them until she begged me to stop. Shaking myself, I downed my protein shake and dumped the glass in the dishwasher. She stood with her plate and did the same.
I didn’t speak as I led her back into the cell and chained her up again.
“Can I have the light on, please?” she asked as she sat against the wall.
“If you want,” I replied, walking away to the door. “Have a list of things you need ready for when I come see you again.”
“Aiden?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
I almost turned around to look at her, but I couldn’t. Whatever reason she had for thanking me, it didn’t matter. I turned the light on for her before I shut the door. This time I didn’t lock it. Wasn’t much point when I’d chained her up.
I walked away to my bedroom. It was time I took care of some things, including my raging hardon which had plagued me since she’d spoken my name out loud for the first time.
That girl had a lot of shit to answer for.
A heck of a lot of shit.
Chapter Five
Avery
I felt like the days were merging into one another. My sense of time was all messed up. I had no idea how long it had been since he’d taken me. Time alone in the cell did things to me. Somehow, I began to look forward to when he’d open the door. Even though we didn’t talk much, having another human around me was comforting.
My hand had healed up with his care. The evidence I’d split my knuckles was all but gone. I wondered how he knew basic first aid. Asking him anything about himself was impossible. He’d likely jump down my throat.
Aiden had got me the few things I’d asked him for. Girl shit as he put it. Simple things like deodorant, a hairdryer, my favourite shampoo and conditioner. I didn’t want to push my luck.
I was glad I didn’t have to ask him to get me tampons. I no longer got periods with the birth control I was on. It would’ve been a seriously embarrassing conversation. Things were already weird after that day he’d let me cry on his chest. I tried not to read too much into it. Especially not what happened afterwards.
I shook myself. I had to forget about how incredible his fingers felt when he’d massaged my shoulders. How much I wanted his fingers in other places. Places I really shouldn’t ever want the man who’d killed my parents to touch me.
I hit my head against the wall behind me several times. Not particularly hard, but just enough to dislodge the thought from my head. I really needed to get a grip. This cell was seriously getting to me. The lack of human contact felt so isolating.
I wondered if Gert had gone on our holiday without me. I couldn’t imagine how her and James felt, knowing I was missing. And then there was Peter. The guy I’d just sort of started seeing. It wasn’t serious. We hadn’t slept together yet, but he was nice. In comparison to the man who had me now, Peter was a puppy dog.
He was in one of my classes so I’d known him for almost two years, but he’d only just worked up the courage to ask me out. I would’ve said yes if he’d asked me in our first year. He was cute in a geeky sort of way, but I liked that he was a proper gentleman. Unlike a certain individual who made my blood pound for many reasons. Fuck my traitorous body for feeling that way about him. I needed to get that man out of my brain, but I couldn’t. He was always there because I was always waiting for him to come see me.
Crazy. Fucking crazy. I was totally losing it.
I just had to try to focus my mind on other things. I remembered what James had said when I told him about my first date with Peter.
“About time you went out with someone who wasn’t a complete cunt.”
James didn’t mince words and liked to swear, a lot. My heart ached. I missed him. His ridiculous crooked grin. His blue eyes sparking with amusement whenever Gert said something funny. The boy was a legend and never failed to cheer me up. I could really do with that now. Anything would be better than being on my own. Anything except Aiden. And he was all I had.
I whacked my head against the wall again, but this time it was a little too hard. I winced, rubbing the back of it.<
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“What is wrong with me?” I said aloud. “Why does everything always come back around to him? I’m so stupid.”
Idiot. Talking to yourself now.
I closed my eyes, imagining Peter’s face instead. His messy dark hair, green eyes blinking behind his glasses and the way he smiled when he looked at me. The first time he’d kissed me, it had been terribly awkward. We’d both been nervous. Stupid really. It wasn’t like either of us were virgins. I think it was more down to the fact that we already knew each other pretty well as friends.
Who knew what he thought with me being gone? I was supposed to meet him the day after my dinner with my parents. I guessed everyone knew they were dead by now. It wasn’t like my family and the company could keep that hidden long. And there was no way Aiden would’ve left anything linking him to the crime scene. I might not know much about the man, but I knew for sure he’d know how to get away with murder.
Fucking Aiden again. The amount of space he took up in my head was intolerable. I was curious about him. About what reasoning he had for killing my parents. Why he really needed me alive. Why he wanted me to learn to rely on him. Obey him. And not least of all, what the hell the tattoos on his arms meant. He’d only allowed me to see them that one time, but the images had burnt into my brain. I’d be able to draw them if he gave me a pen and paper.
Down his left arm, he had several skulls and roses along with some text which I hadn’t been able to make out. It was his right arm that fascinated me. On his bicep was a bird in a cage and wrapping around his forearm, a chain. There were other things, but those two stood out to me. I wanted to know what the caged bird meant. To be honest, I wanted to know what all of it meant. Some part of me wanted to understand him.
And as if he knew I was thinking about him, the door to my cell swung open. I blinked. First, he dumped a bucket in the corner of the room and left. When he returned, he had a plastic bag with him. He set it down next to me along with a large bottle of water. He’d fed me breakfast not long ago so I wasn’t expecting him.
“I have to go out and I don’t know when I’ll be back. There should be enough to keep you going,” he said.
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